actuate

[ ak-choo-eyt ]

/ ˈæk tʃuˌeɪt /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: actuate / actuation on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), ac·tu·at·ed, ac·tu·at·ing.

to incite or move to action; impel; motivate: actuated by selfish motives.

to put into action; start a process; turn on: to actuate a machine.

QUIZ

CUDDLE UP! A COZY QUIZ ON FALL WORDS HAS ARRIVED

If autumn is your ideal season, spice up your repertoire of "fall" vocabulary with this quiz on some warm and vivid descriptive words for the season.

Question 1 of 10

Which of the following words means “to make a crackling sound; crackle”?

crisp

crepitate

fuscous

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of actuate

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Medieval Latin āctuāt(us) “reduced to action” (past participle of āctuāre ), equivalent to Latin āctu(s) (see act) + -ātus -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM actuate

ac·tu·a·tion [ak-choo-ey-shuhn], /ˌæk tʃuˈeɪ ʃən/, nounde·ac·tu·ate, verb (used with object), de·ac·tu·at·ed, de·ac·tu·at·ing.self-ac·tu·at·ing, adjectiveun·ac·tu·at·ed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH actuate

activate, actuate

Words nearby actuate

actually, actuals, actual sin, actuarial, actuary, actuate, actuation, actuator, act up, act upon, actus reus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use actuate in a sentence

Location intelligence visualizes climate-related risks to AT&T’s infrastructure, based on contextual information and science-actuated knowledge.
Mapping the way to climate resilience|MIT Technology Review Insights|June 29, 2021|MIT Technology Review
Basically, it’s an integrated suspension system consisting of two accelerometers telling a microprocessor what the bike is experiencing 1,000 times per second and adjusting the shocks’ magnet-actuated valves accordingly.
Giant’s Trance X 29 Hits the Sweet Spot|Zach White|April 23, 2021|Outside Online
He sought to penetrate the human heart, and to reveal the secret motives which actuate the conduct of men.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume I|John Lord
To make life a success, the glory of God must be the ruling motive to actuate us in all the walks of life.
Choice Readings for the Home Circle|Anonymous

My agitation on Sunday week during and after your departure called forth reflections which actuate my present conduct.
The Letters of the Duke of Wellington to Miss J. 1834-1851|Duke of Wellington
Only suppose that nation to possess the same feelings which actuate every breast in this House; which actuate the American people.
Abridgement of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856 (4 of 16 vol.)|Various
If thoughts do not actuate it, your distrustful fears and cares will vanish.
A Christian Directory (Volume 1 of 4)|Richard Baxter

British Dictionary definitions for actuate

actuate

/ (ˈæktʃʊˌeɪt) /

verb (tr)

to put into action or mechanical motion

to motivate or incite into actionactuated by unworthy desires

Derived forms of actuate

actuation, nounactuator, noun

Word Origin for actuate

C16: from Medieval Latin actuātus, from actuāre to incite to action, from Latin āctus act

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

actuate

Origin of actuate

OTHER WORDS FROM actuate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH actuate

Words nearby actuate

Words related to actuate

How to use actuate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for actuate

Derived forms of actuate

Word Origin for actuate